Tourism Info Nepal

Himalaya Airlines Prepares for Pokhara-Lhasa Flights

Himalaya Airlines Prepares for Pokhara-Lhasa Flights

Himalaya Airlines, established a decade ago as a Nepal-China joint venture, is gearing up to commence direct flights from Pokhara to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China.

The airline plans to operate these flights using an Airbus A319 with a seating capacity of 144. Himalaya Airlines’ Vice President, Vijay Shrestha, stated, “We see great potential in the Pokhara-Lhasa route and have initiated preparations. Discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) have been concluded, and the process is progressing.” He added that they are awaiting approval from both the Nepalese and Chinese aviation authorities to finalize the operations.

Flight Plan and Schedule

The proposed route will start with a flight from Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to Lhasa. The aircraft will then proceed to Pokhara for an overnight rest, followed by a Pokhara-Lhasa flight the next day, returning to Kathmandu. The estimated flight duration between Pokhara and Lhasa is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

History and Current Operations

Himalaya Airlines had previously operated weekly flights from Kathmandu to Lhasa in December last year, but these were suspended due to low passenger demand. The airline currently has permission to operate flights to several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chongqing, Qingdao, and Shanghai, though not all routes have regular services due to limited demand.

Additionally, Himalaya Airlines operates flights to destinations in the Middle East, such as Qatar, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, along with Malaysia and Bangladesh.

Aircraft and Technical Details

The flights on the Pokhara-Lhasa route will utilize the Airbus A319, the only aircraft of its type in the airline’s fleet, which consists of four planes. The aircraft is equipped with additional oxygen systems and facilities for high-altitude flights, as it will cross the Trans-Himalayan air route over Mount Everest and other high peaks.

Significance of Pokhara International Airport

If the Pokhara-Lhasa route is launched, it will mark the first commercial international flight from Pokhara International Airport, which was inaugurated in January 2023. The airport, built for NPR 25.34 billion, witnessed its first jet landing by Himalaya Airlines during its inauguration.

Currently, no international flights are operating from Pokhara. Bhutan’s Druk Air had previously sought permission for direct flights to Pokhara and Bhairahawa but only conducted a single flight in September 2023. Similarly, Sichuan Airlines of China conducted a charter flight previously.

Himalaya Airlines’ Pokhara-Lhasa operation is seen as a significant step toward promoting Pokhara as a hub for international tourism and strengthening Nepal-China connectivity.

Press + K to search